Access to other important services

Family reunion

Individuals who obtain permanent leave to remain or citizenship are entitled to bring their immediate family members, defined as their spouse and any children under the age of eighteen.

Parents and grandparents of settled persons or citizens are permitted to join their children or grandchildren in the United Kingdom but only if they are over the age of 65 and have no other relatives to support them in their home country.

Other close relatives, such as aunts, uncles, brothers, and sisters may be eligible 'if living alone outside the United Kingdom in the most exceptional compassionate circumstance'.

There are financial requirements that the British citizen or UK resident must meet in order to ensure their family migrant does not have recourse to public funds. These financial requirements were challenged in the courts, but were upheld by the Court of Appeal.

Tracing loved ones

The Red Cross provide crucial administrative support in tracing separated family members.

How the Red Cross can help:

Finding the missing family member: when families are separated by armed conflict, disaster or migration

Deliver family news: when normal means of communication breaks down, a family member can still send messages via the Red Cross to family and relatives (Note: the Red Cross does not send money or packages.)

Get a certificate of detention: for people who have been visited and registered by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). While detained the Red Cross may be able to provide confirmation of detentio.

Care for victims of torture

A significant number of asylum seekers and refugees will have been subject to severe physical and/or psychological torture. There is now a large body of evidence indicating that this exposure may have long-term physical and psychological effects. High rates of post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of exposure to horrific, life-threatening events, are well documented in refugee populations. Others include prolonged grief; limited social and family support; identity and culture; and separation from, or loss of family members, all of which have an impact on mental well-being.

Some common forms of torture include:

Severe beatings, falanga: prolonged and severe beating of the soles of the feet

deprivation of sleep and sensory stimulation

use of psychotropic drugs

electric shock: electrodes are placed at sensitive areas such as the tongue, fingertips and genitals

The Helen Bamber Foundation supports refugees and asylum seekers who have experienced extreme human cruelty, such as torture and human trafficking. They provide specialist care to meet the complex needs of some of the most marginalised and vulnerable people in the world. They offer survivors specialist psychological and physical therapy, housing and welfare support, legal protection and creative arts and skills programmes to help people rebuild their lives.

Forrest Medico-Legal Services is a registered not-for-profit community interest company. They are a co-operative of experienced doctors who specialise in timely, evidence based Medico Legal Reports in cases of alleged human rights abuses.

Access to immigration and legal services

Asylum seekers are entitled to free legal representation by a qualified asylum lawyer or caseworker. This will vary for each individual depending on their ‘status’ within the asylum process.

Asylum law is complicated and it is important that individuals get good legal advice and someone to support them. They should find a solicitor as soon as possible, as there are very short deadlines for providing the evidence needed to support the claim for asylum. For more information visit Lawsociety.org or migranthelpuk.org.

Liverpool Law Clinic is a fully functioning pro bono legal practice embedded in the Liverpool Law School. It offers final year law students direct experience of representing real clients, under the supervision of the Clinic’s in-house legal team of qualified lawyers.

Police

Professionals and members of the public are encouraged to report any racism and hate crimes against those seeking asylum and refugees.

Hate crime

Professionals and members of the public are encouraged to report any racism and hate crimes against those seeking asylum and refugees.

Stop Hate UK is one of the leading national organisations working to challenge all forms of Hate Crime and discrimination, based on any aspect of an individual’s identity. Stop Hate UK provides independent, confidential and accessible reporting and support for victims, witnesses and third parties.

Fire service

Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service provides every household on Merseyside with a FREE Home Fire Safety Check, including FREE smoke alarm installation. A specialist community fire safety advocate can visit households to carry out Home Fire Safety Checks for refugees and asylum seekers.

Sexual Health

Whatever you are looking for in Liverpool — whether it is condoms, contraception, STI testing, pregnancy testing, referral for abortion or some support and advice — you can find out about it using the links below.

Irish Community Care Merseyside

Offer daily drop-in information and advice around a range of issues including homelessness, identification, health, GP registration, applications for accommodation, cultural isolation and maintaining family links.Their Welfare Benefits Advice and Advocacy links people into the range of welfare benefit entitlements from initial welfare benefits checks and form filling to representation at appeals and tribunals.

Office Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm

Liverpool Somali Community

Liverpool Somali Community

Telephone: 0151 709 3853

Provide human resources, buildings, facilities, open space, advocacy, advice and information among the Somali community in Liverpool. The aim is to advance the Islamic religion, and to provide facilities in the interest of social welfare for recreation and other leisure-time occupation. They reach out to children, young people, elderly, those with infirmities or disabilities and those in difficult social and economic circumstances.

Office Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm

Merseyside Yemeni Community Association

Merseyside Yemeni Community Association

Telephone: 0151 734 4965 / 0151 734 3843

Their office is open to anyone seeking help and support. Available activities include football, swimming, elderly lunch club, family trips, cultural celebration days and female support sessions.

Liverpool Arabic Centre

Liverpool Arabic Centre was initially set up as Nadey Al – Cul in 1995 after a group of parents from Yemeni and Arabic backgrounds raised concerns with each other about their children’s educational and personal development which was being affected by negative experiences they were having within schools and by unaddressed issues because of their dual heritage backgrounds.

4Wings

4Wings is a unique community interest company (CIC) offering ‘Next Step’ support in the format of ongoing long-term after-care for marginalised or vulnerable women across Merseyside. They aim to take over where the other agencies have left off, focusing on rebuilding women’s self-worth and self-identity, enabling them to move on and reclaim their lives.

Immigration Law Practitioners Association

The Immigration Law Practitioners' Association promotes and improves the advising and representation of immigrants, and provides information to members on domestic and European immigration, refugee and nationality law.